Drapery-form



W. H. KNAPP.

DRAPERY FORM.

(No Model.)

No. 536,085. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

WITNESSES: IM

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM H. KNAPP, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DRAPERY-FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,085, dated March 19, 1 895.

Application filed June 2'7, 1894. Serial No. 515,857. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

1% it known that 1, WILLIAM H. KNAPP, of

Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Drapery-Form, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 7

My invention relates to an improvement in drapery forms, and it has for its object to provide such a device so constructed that the form may be adj ustedto a desired waist or hip measurement and held in its adjusted position, and whereby also the form will rest upon the floor or other support provided for it throughout its entire circumference, thus dispensing with the ordinary base and providing a form which may be worked upon without danger of toppling it over, or shifting its position.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a drapery form of exceedingly simple, durable and economic construction, which may be folded up expeditiously and conveniently around a central standard, occupying p but little space in storage.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the 3 is employed, circular in cross section and provided at its lower end with a disk 11 firmly attached thereto; and upon this disk a locking plate A is secured. This plate is preferably of circular form, or of disk-like construction, being provided with a central opening 12 through which the standard 10 is passed. Upon the under face of the plate a series of angular or substantially V-shaped flanges 13 is formed, producing thereby a series of slideeach slide-way 14 a lug 15 is produced upon the periphery of the plate, having a downward, and if necessary an inward inclination. These lugs project from the periphery of the plate, and when the plate is placed upon the disk 11 thelugs rest upon the said disk, likeupper locking plate, lugs 20 are arranged in pairs, as shown in Fig. 5.

The body portion of the drapery form consists of aseries of slats 21, of any approved material, preferably wood, and each slat has attached to its upper end an inwardly bowed spring section 22, constructed of steel or other elastic material. The spring section of each slat usually consists of a strip of material of substantially the same width as the slat; and each elastic or spring section is provided with an eye or loop 23 at its upper end.

The slats are connected in pairs with the lower and likewise with the upper locking plate, the connecting braces or bars B being made as shown in Fig. 6, namely, from a rod,

preferably stout wire bent upon itself to a. substantially V-shape, the contracted end of each brace or connecting bar being of some "ways 14, extending from the periphery to the central opening 12, and atthe outer end of ot'. the plate of the body section 16 of the said What rectangular form, as shown at 24: in the said Fig. 6, while the ends of the rod or bar are carried outward in opposite directions at the diverging portion of the brace, forming pivot arms 25. The pivot arms of the connecting brace or bar are pivotally entered in the opposing sides of contiguous slats, one series of the connecting bars or braces being located near the lower ends of the slats and another series neartheir upper ends. The contracted ends of the lower series of connecting'rods or braces are made, each brace or rod, to enter a slide-way 14: in the lower looking plate. Consequently, when these lower rods or braces are drawn outward to their full extent, they will engage with the lugs 15 of the lower locking plate, and may be folded upward around the standard 10, since the lugs afford the said braces a hinged connection with the plate, whereas, when the connecting bars or braces are carried within the recesses 14 of the lower locking plate they are held horizontally and stationarily, maintaining the slats in a predetermined position.

The lower connecting rods or braces may be made longer than the upper ones in order to impart to the body of the form somewhat of a conical shape. The upper braces or connecting rods are pivotally connected with the upper locking plate A by causing the contracted or loop end of each brace or connecting rod to enter the space between each pair of lugs, and the said lugs are then bent over the loop sections of the braces, forming a hinged or pivotal connection thereby with the said plate.

In operation, supposing a form to be closed around the standard 10, the set screw of the upper locking plate is loosened and the slats are carried downward until they all rest upon the floor or other support provided for the form. The upper locking plate A is then adjusted upon the standard until the desired standard by the set screw 19. A second tape 27, which is passed through the eyes 23 at the upper ends of the slat extensions, is then adjusted and secured to obtain the proper waist measurement.

It is evident that this drapery form rests firmly upon its support, and that it may be worked upon with convenience and dispatch, and without danger of the form toppling over.

It will be understood that when the slats have been adjusted, the lower braces are pushed into the slide-ways of the lower looking plate, thus holding the slats firmly in place. WVhen the form is not required for use, the lower braces are drawn outward until they hinge upon the lugs 15 of the lower looking plate, and the set screw of the upper looking plate is loosened, and the said plate is carried upward until the slats shall have folded closely around the standard 10, resting substantially upon the lower lockingplate A.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A drapery form substantially as described comprising the standard, the slats, the braces connected at one end with the slats and a connection between the other ends of the braces and the standard, such connection having a locking portion and a hinge or pivot portion, and the brace being adjustable from one to the other of said portions, whereby it may be set to swing vertically or be locked from such swinging, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a drapery form, the combination, with a standard,a locking plate upon said standard, having slide-ways therein, and a lug at the outer end of each slide-way, a slide located upon the upper end of the standard, and a locking device carried by the slide, of a series of slate grouped around the standard, braces pivotally connected with the lower portions of the slats, having hinged connection with the lugs of thelocking plate, said braces being likewise capable of sliding in the ways of the said plate, elastic extensions formed at the upper ends of the said slats, connecting rods pivotally connected with the upper portion of the slats and with the said slide, and means, substantially as described, for drawing the upper ends of the elastic extensions of the slats inward around the standard, as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the slats of the form rest solidly upon their support, and whereby likewise said slats may be folded around the standard as desired.

3. In a dress form, the combination, with a standard, a locking plate held. thereto and having slide-Ways produced in its under face, and a lug at the outer end of each slide-way, and a second locking plate held to slide upon the standard, provided with a set screw and having lugs arranged in pairs formed upon its lower face, forming a section of a hinge, of slats located around the standard and adapted to extend below the same, inwardly bowed elastic sections attached to the upper ends of said slats, provided with eyes at their upper ends, and a measuring tape passed through said eyes, substantially V-Shaped connecting rods or braces attached to the standards near their lower ends and adapted to slide in the ways of the lower locking plate and to have pivotal engagement with the logs of the said plate, a second set of similar connecting rods or braces pivotally attached to the upper portion of the slats, and having pivotal connection with the said lugs on the movable locking plate, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a drapery or dress form, the combination of the standard, thelocking plate secured thereto and having slide-ways constituting a locking portion and lugs forming a hinge or pivot portion, the braces having one end movable longitudinally in said locking plate, whereby they may be adjusted to swing vertically or be locked from such swinging and the slats or ribs at the outer ends of said braces, substantially as set forth.

5. In adrapery or dress form, the slats or ribs a locking plate having lugs arranged circumferentially and formed in pairs upon its under face, the lugs of each pair being arranged at different distances from the center of such plate and curved in direction of each other to constitute hearings for loop braces,

IIO

the support for said locking plate and the and when moved longitudinally inward to be looked from such movement and the slats or 10 ribs, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

WILLIAM H. KNAPP. Witnesses:

O. SEDGWICK, F. W. HANAFORD. 

